Dawlish News
Teignbridge Council has successfully secured land between Exeter Road and Eastdon Woods, north of Shutterton Lane in Dawlish, for a new countryside park for the local community.
Due to open in 2017, the countryside park will provide a natural recreational area for local people to enjoy as part of a £2.9m project called Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANGS).
Read more..http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/location-of-new-2-9million-countryside-near-dawlish-revealed/story-29710653-detail/story.html#qt6Y8X3Q4TXiKPmc.99
Looking at the aerial map the T&H Express have provided Lynne, the entrance would appear to be around a hundred yards past Orchard Lane (heading south) close to the Dawlish boundary sign.
Leaving aside the question about whether compulsory purchase should ever have been considered in pursuit of delivery of the Teignbridge plan for a SANGS 'coastal park'' at Warren Farm, this new site to the north of town would seem superior in many ways. It is capable of providing better nterception for people travelling from Exeter (to relieve strain on the Exe and Warren beaches - one of the primary aims of this SANGS). It is larger (27ha compared to the pared down 22ha Teignbridge had proposed at Warren Farm) - while views from the site will be as impressive as the views of the site from the many vantage points across the wider parish, which are now to be preserved in perpetuity.
The tin lid of course is that the site was available to purchase - a primary consideration, surely?
So the glorified dog walking area has had the go ahead. Not convenient for the residents of DA2 or those that could have walked from Dawlish! With the field closest to the new development for over 1000 + houses not included, this makes it difficult for access, since walking along Shutterton Lane is frankly dangerous from either end and there is no path to St Mary's Cottages, even if one intended to use the park. This area is even more out on a limb than the crazy Warren Farm site and 2.9m is not cheap for what could be a white elephant. Oh and no SANGS on the landowner's land means they can have even more housing on the now freed up area within the DA2 envelope, so more profits for the developers and misery for the locals with the infrastructure creaking under the pressure now. So well done TDC, half a job done again as usual! Finally if the car park is off Exeter Road just before the brow of the hill, there would be a good chance of an accident as cars try and get accross the road to get on the Exeter side! Maybe they should get the cart in front of the horse and sort out the highways issues first before they get too excited. I am still worried about lorries coming out of Langdon site when the industrial units are up, since there is no talk of traffic measures in this area, and the below will just compound this unless the car park will be below Cofon Wood. Am I the only one with concerns or are everyone dazzled by the thought of a new park and not the consequences of it!
I assume the £2.9 million pounds is for the purchase of the land, but also includes all the costs of completing the infrastructure - car park, toilets, paths, landscaping, water features, access roads, etc,etc.
They do state it is a country park and not just a few fields you can let your dog poop in or ride your motocrosser in, don't they?
Anyone know where the specific details of this purchase and the plans for the development of the site are or will be?
From the Teignbridge website
Cllr Humphrey Clemens, Teignbridge's Executive Member for Housing and Planning, said:
"I'm delighted that this site has been secured for the enjoyment of local people and visitors as a countryside park.
"The new countryside park will be public open space with wild countryside and walks, available to all. It will be home to native species including wildflower grassland, scrub and woodland, and native wildlife, such as cirl buntings. In addition to nearby coast and countryside at Dawlish Warren and the Exe Estuary, it will give people more choice about where they go to explore the environment and enjoy nature at its best.
"Not only will this site ensure an area of countryside permanently remains as a valuable green space but also ensures the Council meets its legal obligations and the needs of Dawlish, Dawlish Warren communities and beyond. This purchase means that Teignbridge is adhering to its Local Plan, making sure development only takes place in agreed areas."
Teignbridge worked closely with Natural England to assess all options for natural, green space near Dawlish. This site was finally agreed as suitable due to its size, access to roads including the A379, proximity to housing developments, tourist accommodation and Dawlish Warren's busy tourist hub. The site has been secured following 12 months of negotiation with the landowner.
The 26.4 hectare (65 acre) site (around the size of 26 rugby pitches) will be paid for with money from developers, known as Section 106 payments and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), on new developments across the three council areas. Commercial sensitivity around the sale means that the purchase price of the land is not disclosed.
It is not clear if there will be a car park or toilets etc from the published statement, maybe Cllr Taylor could enlighten us. As for the Redrow Temporary SANGS this will be short lived, since the final SANGS have now been secured. Therefore, I guess the site will be left as an open field, due to the case it would be wrong to ask Redrow to pay for on site infrastructure that by next year will no longer be in use!